A new term is entering the traveller's lexicon, and Egypt is learning its meaning, writes Mahmoud Bakr Developers and government officials are optimistic that environmental tourism would breathe new life into Egypt's tourism, which dropped considerably after the 25 January Revolution. Maged George, minister of state for environmental affairs, says that Egypt now has 27 nature protectorates covering 150,000 kilometres, or nearly one- seventh of the country's total area. These protectorates, he added, are home to 20,000 species of fauna and flora. The Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs is now taking steps to include Wadi Al-Gemal, St Catherine, and the Jabal Qatrani area in Fayoum in the UNESCO list of protectorates. One of the country's most ambitious environmental tourism projects is the Bayoum Tourist Resort. According to Amin Wali, chairman of the board of the Egypt-Fayoum Tourist Development Company, Bayoum is the Pharaonic name of Fayoum, a city situated 90km to the southwest of Cairo. Nearby Qaroun Lake, he added, is the oldest natural lake in the world. Wali said that there are many natural sites close to Fayoum, including Ain Sillin hot springs, Wadi Al-Rayan waterfalls, Qaroun Palace, the Hanging Mosque, the Lahoun Pyramids, and the Hawwara ruins. A database has been prepared of the ecosystems in Fayoum to examine the possible impact of development on the surrounding areas, Wali pointed out. Having studied the natural, chemical, biological, social and economic impact on the environment in the project, the company plans to use only seven per cent of the 464,000 square metres allocated for the project for built-up facilities, while keeping 10 per cent for green areas. It is vital, Wali said, to engage in environmental planning for coastal areas, both for seas and lakes, so as to preserve nature for future generations and protect existing ecosystems. According to Wali, Fayoum already has sizeable farms for exporting grapes and olives, but people don't want to move there because of the low standard of living in that area. However, with the improvement in roads, Fayoum is now easily accessible from Cairo. "We planned our project in a way to ensure that the benefits would reach the entire population by offering people more jobs and more opportunities to market their products. We buy curtains, pergolas, and straw furniture from the locals. The company also provides health, environmental, and social services to the population." Wael Abed, director-general of Al-Tarfa Resort, is equally proud of the sustainable development his company is bringing to Al-Wadi Al-Gadid. "The resort and lodge of Al-Tarfa are a model for sustainable development in the oasis, since the main goal of the resort is to revive the classical architecture of the oasis." According to Abed, his company is interested in the people and what they do, in the economic and social structures supporting them, as well as in the architecture and antiquities for which the area is known. "Al-Tarfa embraces all of that. We have successfully completed the first stage of the architectural documentation of the Dakhla Oasis, during which we invited Egyptian artists to paint scenery from the villages of Qasr and Balat." Now, 27 oil paintings are being exhibited in Al-Tarfa Resort, and the company plans to document mud brick houses of the same villages in a similar manner. The name Al-Tarfa, Abed pointed out, is derived from a plant that used to grow on the site. The same company is also engaged in preserving the sand dunes of the Dakhla Oasis. In 2009, Al-Tarfa Resort, in cooperation with Al-Wadi Al-Gadid governorate, surveyed the sand dunes with a view to protecting them. The government has agreed to set aside seven square kilometres of sand dunes for a nature park to be called the Dakhla Dunes Park. According to Abed, the park would be an attractive destination for eco tourists because of the salt paths, dry lakes, filled-in wells, and unusual flora it contains. Al-Tarfa, Abed added, seeks to raise the standard of living for the local population and protect scarce natural resources. All the workers at Al-Tarfa resort are from nearby villages, and the company is helping the locals engage in organic agriculture. "We have also dug a well to provide water for the project and the nearby villages." Abed urged the ministries of environment and tourism to encourage eco tourism in areas endowed with such unique nature, such as the Whales Valley, the oases and Lake Qaroun. The ministries, he said, should offer incentives to serious investors and encourage projects related to environmental and agricultural heritage. Al-Tarfa CEO Gamal Morsi said that Al-Wadi Al-Gadid and Fayoum deserve to be approached in a different way when it comes to tourism. "We wanted to do something special to turn the areas into integrated environmental zones that are in harmony with nature. We seek to turn this area into a primary attraction for eco tourism." According to Morsi, areas such as the Dakhla Oasis, the Kharga Oasis, Fayoum, and Aswan have an untapped potential for eco tourism. "We have been thinking of this project for a while but couldn't get on with it in the past. Now we are determined to focus on heritage sites as a way of encouraging environmental tourism. We also believe that the oases should have a stronger link with the Egyptian south." Hamza Selim, first deputy chairman of Orascom Land and Resort Development Sector, believes that Gouna offers a model for tourism, for it meets environmental standards, economises on water and energy, reduces waste and encourages recycling. "We focus on capacity building and environmental standards and provide our guests with plenty of material concerning the environment," he said.
